Today, at the Baikonur cosmodrome, in front of the "Cosmonaut" Hotel, a ceremony was held to raise the flags of countries, participating in the "Soyuz MS-12" international launch to the International Space Station.
The traditional event, which symbolizes the official start of the final stage of crew preparation for a launch, was attended by the main and backup crews of the 59 / 60th long expedition to the ISS.
Roskosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Alexander Skvortsov raised the Russian flag, NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch - the USA flag, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan - the flag of Kazakhstan.

The final stage of preparation of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft for the flight to the International Space Station (ISS) began at the Baikonur cosmodrome.
In accordance with the training schedule, the cosmonauts and astronauts tried the flight suits, tested them for tightness, and took seats in their ship.
The main crew of the ISS-59/60 includes Roskosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin and NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch.
Their backups are Roskosmos cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan.
The launch of the "Soyuz-FG" carrier rocket with "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft to the International Space Station is scheduled for March 14, 2019 from the Baikonur cosmodrome.

On February 26, 2019, the main and backup crews of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft arrived at the Baikonur cosmodrome to complete preparations for the flight.
Roskosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin and NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch are in the main crew of the ISS-59/60.
Their backups are Roskosmos cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan.
The launch of the "Soyuz-FG" launch vehicle with "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft is scheduled for March 14, 2019 from the Baikonur cosmodrome.

In accordance with the flight program of the International Space Station (ISS), on February 26, 2019, a planned correction of the ISS orbit was performed.
The working time of the engine system was 434 seconds.
The purpose of the correction was the formation of ballistic conditions for launching and docking of the "Soyuz MS-12" spacecraft.

Having successfully passed the exams on manual control of transport manned and cargo spaceships, the main crew of the ISS this Monday continued to pass the "space" exams.
The working week of "Soyuz MS-12" commander Alexey Ovchinin and flight engineer Nick Hague began with the manual-controlled descent exam on the TC-7 simulator, based on the CF-7 centrifuge base.
Taking into account that Alexey and Nick passed such exam on the Soyuz spacecraft several months ago as part of "Soyuz MS-10" crew training, the high level of their knowledge and skills during the training was rated by the commission as “excellent”.
The examination week of the main crew of the ISS continued with a test of knowledge of the Russian segment of the International Space Station.
The two-week training sessions for the main crew of the ISS were the final training for the complex exams, which are to be held by Alexey Ovchinin, Nick Hague and Christina Koch after one week.

Despite the strong wind and snow, not only the Star City residents and the staff of the GCTC came to greet the crew of the 56/57 expedition to the ISS, but also the leaders of the rocket and space industry enterprises, as well as the ambassadors of the United States and Germany in Russia John Huntsman and Rüdiger von Fritsch.
The crew members of the "Soyuz MS-09" (call name "Altai") Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Prokopiev, ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst and NASA astronaut Serena Aunon-Chancellor returned to Earth safely on December 20, 2018 after performing a 196-day flight.
Ambassadors of the United States and Germany, representatives of related organizations of the rocket and space industry, foreign space agencies, municipalities and other associations, cosmonauts colleagues warmly welcomed the crew, handing memorable addresses and gifts.
At the end of the meeting, the crew of the ISS-56/57 thanks all those, who were involved in their flight.

On January 25, at 15:55 (Moscow time), the "Progress MS-09" cargo spaceship, having completed its mission, undocked from the Russian segment of the International Space Station.
The fall of the fireproof elements of the ship’s structure occurred at 19:50 (Moscow time) in a given area of ​​the non-navigable part of the Pacific Ocean.
For the first time in history, the "Progress MS-09" spaceship arrived at the station 3 hours and 40 minutes after its launch from the Baikonur cosmodrome and was part of the orbital station from July 10, 2018

In accordance with the flight program of the International Space Station (ISS), on January 18, 2019, a planned correction of the ISS orbit was performed.
The engines system working time was 500 seconds.
As a result, the station received a speed increment of 1 m / s.
The purpose of the correction was the formation of ballistic conditions for the flight of Russian transport ships.

The crew members of the "Soyuz MS-09" spaceship, undocked today from the International Space Station (ISS), returned safely to Earth.
The landing module with Roskosmos cosmonaut Sergey Prokopiev, ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst and NASA astronaut Serena Aunon-Chancellor landed in the Kazakhstan on December 20, 2018 at 8:02 (Moscow time).
The duration of stay in the space flight of the crew of the long expedition ISS-56/57 was 197 days.
"Soyuz MS-09" spacecraft has been a part of the ISS since June 8, 2018.

The 57th long expedition is being completed at the International Space Station (ISS).
According to preliminary data from the ballistic and navigation support service of the Mission Control Center, the undocking of the "Soyuz MS-09" spacecraft from the ISS is scheduled for December 4, 2018 at 04:00. 40 min 30 seconds (Moscow time).
Landing of the descent vehicle of the "Soyuz MS-09" spaceship is expected at 08:03 am (Moscow time) 147 km south-east of the city of Zhezkazgan in Kazakhstan.